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Bikes, hikes and fall foliage - free things to do in Burlington

Bike path

Sunlight falls on remaining bright foliage as the snow capped ski trails of Stowe ski resort are seen on the side of Mt. Mansfield in Stowe, Vt.

People walk past a mural wall on the Church St. Marketplace on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

FILE-In this June 16, 2011, file photo, a young couple enjoy the weather along Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

FILE-In this July 27, 2010, file photo, pedestrians walk along the Church St. mall in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

FILE-In this July 27, 2010, file photo, a visitor takes pictures in front of the statue of Big Joe Burrell on Church St. in Burlington, Vt.Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

People use the Burlington bike path on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

People walk past a sculpture named "Leapfroggers" on the Church St. Marketplace on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

People use the Burlington bike path on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

FILE-In this Oct. 10, 2008, file photo, boats travel across the waters of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

In this Sept. 16, 2011 photo, autos drive by colorful foliage in Smugglers Notch in Stowe, Vt. Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont's largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Mountain and lake views along with fall foliage can be had for free in Vermont’s largest city of Burlington, which feels more like a big town than a city. The college town, home to the University of Vermont and a number of other schools, sits on the shores of Lake Champlain, a 120-mile lake between Vermont and upstate New York, with spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains. The city offers a waterfront bike and walking path and parks as well as a downtown pedestrian mall, easy access to mountain hikes and foliage viewing, all at no cost.

Bike path

Burlington has a 7.5-mile recreational path that runs along Lake Champlain from Oakledge Park in the southern end of the city to the Winooski River, at the northern point. The path runs through three waterfront parks, past city neighborhoods, and offers bikers, walkers and runners spectacular views of the lake and Adirondack Mountains across the water in New York. Details at http://www.enjoyburlington.com/Parks/BikePath1.cfm .

Church Street Marketplace

The center of downtown is Church Street Marketplace, four city blocks paved with brick that have been closed to traffic so that pedestrians can stroll among shops and restaurants, many of which offer outdoor dining in warm weather. The array of shops and restaurants from Leunig’s Bistro to Ben & Jerry’s to Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center can be viewed at http://www.churchstreetmarketplace.com .

Waterfront park

Within walking distance of downtown are 900 feet of lakeshore, a boardwalk and benches, and scenic boathouse where visitors can watch ferries come and go, see boats in the marina and enjoy the sunset, http://www.enjoyburlington.com/waterfront.cfm .

Scenic foliage vewing

Less than an hour’s drive from Burlington are small towns, dirt roads, farms, mountain passes and ski areas that offer grand views of Vermont’s colorful fall foliage. Interstate 89 South, Route 2 East and Route 116 are all good bets for leaf-peepers. Travel to Bolton Valley or Stowe Mountain Resort or head up Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch, a narrow, windy mountain pass, between Stowe and Jeffersonville. At the top of the pass is Smugglers’ Notch State Park. The road is not open in the winter.

Hikes

Vermont is known for the Green Mountains, which are visible from Burlington, enticing hikers and skiers out of the city. Within an hour’s drive of the city are trails to climb Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak at 4,395 feet, Camel’s Hump (4,083 feet). The region also abounds with shorter, easier hikes such as Moss Glen Falls Trail in Stowe or the Sterling Pond on the Long Trail. For a list of hikes, check out the Green Mountain Club at http://www.greenmountainclub.org .